David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

The legendary David Campese is preparing to eat humble pie, admitting that Joe Schmidt is proving him wrong as the Wallabies coach. Australia are currently two wins from two on their Autumn Nations Series tour having picked off England and Wales, and they next take on Scotland in Edinburgh this Sunday before concluding with a November 30 clash with Ireland in Dublin.

Campese was brash in his criticism earlier this year about Rugby Australia’s decision to appoint Schmidt, the New Zealander who assisted the All Blacks to their second place finish at last year’s Rugby World Cup, as the head coach successor to the disastrous Eddie Jones.

The 62-year-old Campese, a 1991 World Cup winner, was adamant following The Rugby Championship that the Wallabies should be coach by an Australian, not a recruit from overseas. “I don’t believe we should have a Kiwi coach,” he claimed after the four-team tournament where Australia finished last after just one win in six matches.

“Joe Schmidt hasn’t won anything. Yes, he might have won a Six Nations (with Ireland), but the World Cup is the ultimate for any sports player or coach, and he hasn’t won anything. We always seem to get a coach that has never won anything. We always seem to get the second-best Kiwi coach, never the first-best.

“Joe Schmidt has got no idea about our culture or history. We’re mauling the ball from 22 metres out. We don’t do that. That’s not Australian rugby. We are used to counterattack and attack from anywhere. We can’t even do that. It’s very sad that we have to go through this again with another Kiwi coach.”

Less than two months later, though, Campese has now changed his tune after watching the Wallabies beat England 42-37 and Wales 52-20 and has suggested that Rugby Australia should consider tying Schmidt down to a contract extension through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, a tournament that the Australians will be hosting.

Speaking to Vision4Sport, who offer hospitality packages for rugby’s most iconic events, Campese said: “He [Schmidt] is proving me wrong again. It didn’t start well but the players have responded well to the coach. He seems to be doing a great job. He is only on a two-year deal until after the British and Irish Lions tour next year. He will do everything he can do in that time.

"It will then be up to the players to take that knowledge on and let’s see who the next coach is going to be. There was a rumour that Schmidt was just a stop gap but who knows. If he carries on with the improvement and they do well against the Lions, then they would have to look at a new deal until the World Cup.”

The Wallabies scored a total of 13 tries in London and Cardiff, playing a brand of rugby that Campese greatly enjoyed. “Don’t get me wrong, I always want the Wallabies to do well. They are part of my DNA. It’s just that over recent years, it has been disappointing and frustrating to see them where they are. As professionals, with the culture and the history, they have proved me wrong and I am very happy about that.

“I want them to do well. They have long had the talent but not the structures. They have demonstrated they can play great rugby and enjoy themselves. I have been a critic but it was always with the thought back to my days and what we had and how we used to train to get to that level.

“The hope is now these guys, with all the resources they get, can be two of three times better than we were. The attitude of the players, the way they play and the way they are backing themselves now. They are spreading the ball wide and have some great attacking players.

“The only concern is that they are still a bit off in trying to understand what to do when you haven’t got the ball. They all seem to want to score tries from 45 metres out. Sometimes all you need to do is pass the ball and support and chase, that way you might score even more tries.”

Campese signed off with a prediction about how far cross-code new cap Joseph Suaalii can go in rugby union following his arrival from NRL. “What impresses me the most about him is that he is not a selfish player. He got the ball and did what he had to do as a centre with his passing and offloading. He demonstrated that he is a team player.

“Playing at the top level of State of Origin gives you great confidence. Suaalii was at school three years ago. He has learned rapidly and he is only going to get better. Tom Wright is another player from rugby league. He has always been a good player and he is thriving in this new atmosphere and environment.

“So is Len Ikitau. We have four Super Rugby teams and plenty of talent. It’s just been about trying to find the right combinations. Eddie Jones didn’t rate him, but Joe Schmidt does. They are all playing with smiles on their faces which is great. The more you enjoy your rugby the better you are going to play.”